Tax rates set in Washburn, Blaine

As summer reaches its peak, more municipalities have set their property tax rates for 2018, while some will set their rates in September.

BLAINE, Maine — As summer reaches its peak, more municipalities have set their property tax rates for 2018, while some will set their rates in September.

The town of Blaine set its 2018 tax rate on Aug. 23, with the mill rate increasing 17 percent from $20 per $1,000 of property value to $23.50, according to Town Clerk Janet Bradbury.

The increase for the town of about 680 residents is due largely to a $50,000 budget increase that voters previously approved for future repairs to the dam on the Prestile Stream, Bradbury said.

While the town did not receive the $150,000 state grant it had applied for in order to repair the dam, Bradbury said officials will apply again and have set aside the matching $50,000 in local money that will be required to use at that time.

Other aspects of the budget related to the increase include increases to the town reserve accounts for equipment and paving, Bradbury said.

North of Blaine in Mars Hill, the town set its 2018 tax rate in late June at 17.25 mills, the same rate as last year.

The town of Westfield set its rate at 22 mills, up 2.5 percent from 21.46

In Washburn, the mill rate for 2018 is staying the same as last year — 31 mills. In Wade, which shares a town manager with Washburn, the tax rate increase by one mill to 20.

Presque Isle’s tax rate, set in mid-July, is going up just slightly from last year, with an increase from 25.6 to 25.82.

Fort Fairfield’s tax rate is scheduled to be determined at the town’s Sept. 19 Council meeting, said Town Manager Jim Risner. The town’s current tax rate stands at 25.7.

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